Amira El-Noshokaty joins the crowds along the banks of the Nile There are many aspects to a typical Cairene summer: vicious heat waves, endless traffic and nights that stay forever young as Egyptians flock to the Nile in search of summer breezes. With unemployment topping two million and 40 per cent of Egyptians -- according to World Bank and Ministry of Investment reports -- living below the poverty line, going away for the summer isn't exactly a priority. Given drastic price increases and the impossibility, for many Cairenes, of getting out of the city, the Corniche has become the only viable holiday alternative, leading to a mini-boom among street vendors who have seized the opportunity, plugging into the seemingly insatiable demand for ice-cream and grilled corn, and made their own low-budget mobile cafés on pavements and bridges. Great stretches of the Nile banks have been cordoned off yet some spots remain open to the public, including one favoured, shady destination on Al-Roda Island, in Manial, at the end of Abdel-Aziz Al-Saoud Street, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Cairo. "I call this the office," Kamal Dwidar, a former high-school principal, told Al-Ahram Weekly. For 10 years Dwidar has picked the same spot to fish every day. Another couple, in their early 50s -- they refused to give their names -- drive from Nasr City to catch the Nile breeze on weekly basis. They pack their folding chairs and sip tea while watching the sunset together. Bridges are also popular, close to the water yet elevated so that they catch what wind there is. Qasr Al-Nil bridge is a longtime favourite. Built between 1931 and 1933, during the reign of King Fouad, the bridge, which boasts two bronze lions at either end, connects downtown to the residential district of Zamalek. Families often stroll over the bridge, stopping to watch colourful boats sailing beneath. Next to Qasr Al-Nil bridge lies Al-Andalus public garden, open to the public for a nominal fee, an ideal location for couples and families seeking a safe playground for their children by the Nile. Whether on a low budget or no budget, Egyptians find a way to enjoy themselves.
